It looks like there will be another new box office champion this weekend, cutting The Wolverine’s reign short. Two new wide releases - the action film 2 Guns and the family sequel Smurfs 2 - hit the box office this weekend and the two will likely finish in the top two spots.
Sony’s Smurfs 2 opened in the U.S. Wednesday, grossing $5.2 million that day, notes Deadline. The film has also opened in several overseas markets and opens in another 42 markets this weekend. Sony may seem overconfident, but it is predicting a $100 million weekend for the film.
Domestically, the film will be hurt by a glut of family entertainment at the box office. Family films seem to come in bunches - we could go months without them, but in the summer, Hollywood releases them all at once. It hurt Turbo and will likely hurt Smurfs 2, which could only make $35 million after five days. The film cost Sony $125 million to make and only has one chance to win the box office, because Disney’s Planes opens next weekend.
2 Guns stars Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington and was directed by Baltasar Kormakur. The R-rated film has plenty of humor and is being distributed by Universal in the U.S. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal is expecting a debut in the low-20s, but some analysts suggest that it could reach $30 million and does have a chance to beat Smurfs.
Box Office Mojo predicts that Wolverine will fall all the way to $19 million, a 63 percent drop off from last weekend. The Conjuring and Despicable Me 2 should round out the Top 5.
The Canyons with Lindsay Lohan hits limited theaters this weekend, but her fans can also check it out on Video On Demand. Also, Shailene Woodley stars in The Spectacular Now, another limited release this weekend.
image: Sony